DEBATE: Is it time to reform the civil service, as Dominic Cummings intends? December 19, 2019 Is it time for a full restructuring of the civil service, as Dominic Cummings intends? YES, says Duncan Simpson, research director at the TaxPayers’ Alliance. The “Rolls Royce” reputation of the civil service has long been in question. From hugely overpriced procurements in defence and transport, to overly-anxious advice on EU exit negotiations, the supposed [...]
Trump impeachment vote: When is the vote, and will Trump really be impeached? December 18, 2019 The US House of Representatives is preparing to vote on the prospect of impeaching sitting US President Donald Trump today. Despite a mountain of evidence showing Trump asked Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden, the President has insisted that he did nothing wrong. The House Rules Committee has approved six hours of debate on [...]
Tony Blair: Labour must be rescued from the far left December 18, 2019 Tony Blair delivered a scathing verdict on Labour’s 2019 General Election campaign and urged the party’s leadership hopefuls not to “whitewash” the result. “Labour needs not just a different driver, but a different bus,” he said in a speech announcing his institute’s report into Labour’s biggest electoral defeat in modern history. Read more: How Boris [...]
Dominic Cummings may be ruthless, but he delivers when it comes to securing victory December 16, 2019 The Tories’ election victory may have been fronted by the indefatigable Boris Johnson, but underlying it was the vindication of a strategy conceived by his chief advisor: Dominic Cummings. He may have gained notoriety as campaign director of Vote Leave in the EU referendum, but it was his role in masterminding the 2004 “North East [...]
Boris Johnson thanks north of England for ‘breaking voting habits of generations’ December 14, 2019 Boris Johnson has thanked the north of England for “breaking the voting habits of generations” during a visit to Sedgefield today. The Prime Minister visited the former seat of Tony Blair after celebrating the Conservative’s 80-seat majority – the party’s largest since 1987. It was the first time the Country Durham constituency has been held [...]
Trump: US to suspend planned tariffs after reaching China trade deal December 13, 2019 President Donald Trump said on Friday the US would suspend scheduled tariffs after reaching a “phase one” trade deal with China in a significant de-escalation of tensions between the world’s two largest economies. Under the deal, Washington will suspend the tariffs on Chinese imports scheduled to be introduced on Sunday, while Beijing would step up [...]
Jeremy Corbyn: Election was ‘taken over by Brexit’ December 13, 2019 Jeremy Corbyn has said he did “everything he could” to get the Labour party into government in the General Election, and that he will not “walk away” until another leader is installed. The Labour leader said the election was “taken over by Brexit,” after the Conservatives stormed to victory in its traditional bases. Read more: [...]
Timetable set for Neil Woodford fund repayments December 13, 2019 Administrators have finalised details for the winding up of Neil Woodford’s Equity Income Fund (WEIF), the suspension of which triggered a scandal that led to the collapse of his investment empire. In a letter to investors today, Link Fund Solutions said the process of winding up the fund will begin on 18 January. The final [...]
Election survivors: All the MPs who only just held onto their seats December 13, 2019 With every General Election comes speculation that Westminster stalwarts and cabinet ministers might lose their seats, and this was no different. But for some, last night brought a sigh of relief, as campaigners hoping they would be ousted were proved wrong. Read more: General Election: Boris Johnson praises ‘stonking mandate’ for Brexit Theresa May For [...]
Donald Trump: Britain free to strike ‘massive’ trade deal with US after Boris Johnson election victory December 13, 2019 Traditionally, for the winner of a General Election, results day involves taking congratulatory calls from leaders across the globe. But in Boris Johnson’s case, US President Donald Trump has beaten the others to the punch, tweeting that he will soon bestow the re-elected Tory PM with a “massive” new trade deal once he has delivered [...]